Troy A. Rolf
Troy is a principal at GKG Law and is an aviation and tax attorney concentrating in the areas of corporate aircraft transactions and operations. Troy's experience includes negotiating and drafting aircraft purchase, lease, management and charter agreements, providing aviation regulatory and tax planning services to aircraft owners, operators and managers, and structuring fractional aircraft ownership programs.
Before law school, Troy worked as an air traffic control specialist in military and FAA facilities for more than a dozen years, and earned a commercial pilot certificate with single-engine, multi-engine and instrument ratings. Upon earning his law degree, Troy returned to the Federal government, where he participated in the Department of Transportation's prestigious Honors Attorney program and served as an FAA attorney before moving to the private sector in 1998.
Troy attends multiple business aviation conferences and events throughout the year, and has presented numerous webinars on tax and regulatory topics of relevance to aircraft owners and operators. He has also authored multiple articles on tax issues in business aviation.
Troy is admitted to practice law in the State of Minnesota and the District of Columbia, as well as the United States Tax Court and the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota.
Education
- University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Business (M.B.A.)
- Georgetown University Law Center (Master of Laws in Taxation, with distinction)
- University of Minnesota Law School (Juris Doctor, cum laude)
- University of North Dakota, Center for Aerospace Sciences (B.S. in Aeronautical Studies, summa cum laude)
Bar Admissions
- Minnesota
- District of Columbia
Court Admissions
- United States Tax Court
- U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
Professional Background
- Attorney, Federal Aviation Administration, Office of the Chief Counsel, Regulations Division, Airspace and Air Traffic Control Branch (1997-1998)
- Honors Attorney, U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of the General Counsel (1996-1997)
- Air Traffic Control Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, Grand Forks Tower, Grand Forks International Airport, ND (1985-1993)
- Soldier/Air Traffic Control Tower Operator, U.S. Army, Hood Tower, Hood Army Airfield, and Kitzingen Tower, Kitzingen Army Airfield, Germany (1980-1984)
Professional Associations
- National Business Aviation Association
- International Aircraft Dealers Association
- National Aircraft Finance Association
- Minnesota Business Aviation Association
- Minnesota Bar Association
Publications
- Taxing the CEO's Jet: Federal Taxation of Corporate and Private Aircraft Ownership and Operations, 66 J. Air L. & Com. 1605 (2001)
- The Coming of Age of Fractional Aircraft Ownership Programs, The Air & Space Lawyer, Spring 2001
- International Aircraft Noise Certification, 65 J. Air L. & Com. 383 (2000)
Aviation Certificates
- Commercial Pilot - Airplane with single and multi-engine land, and instrument ratings
- Advanced Ground Instructor
- Control Tower Operator
- University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Business (M.B.A.)
- Georgetown University Law Center (Master of Laws in Taxation, with distinction)
- University of Minnesota Law School (Juris Doctor, cum laude)
- University of North Dakota, Center for Aerospace Sciences (B.S. in Aeronautical Studies, summa cum laude)
- Minnesota
- District of Columbia
- United States Tax Court
- U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
- Attorney, Federal Aviation Administration, Office of the Chief Counsel, Regulations Division, Airspace and Air Traffic Control Branch (1997-1998)
- Honors Attorney, U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of the General Counsel (1996-1997)
- Air Traffic Control Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration, Grand Forks Tower, Grand Forks International Airport, ND (1985-1993)
- Soldier/Air Traffic Control Tower Operator, U.S. Army, Hood Tower, Hood Army Airfield, and Kitzingen Tower, Kitzingen Army Airfield, Germany (1980-1984)
- National Business Aviation Association
- International Aircraft Dealers Association
- National Aircraft Finance Association
- Minnesota Business Aviation Association
- Minnesota Bar Association
- Taxing the CEO's Jet: Federal Taxation of Corporate and Private Aircraft Ownership and Operations, 66 J. Air L. & Com. 1605 (2001)
- The Coming of Age of Fractional Aircraft Ownership Programs, The Air & Space Lawyer, Spring 2001
- International Aircraft Noise Certification, 65 J. Air L. & Com. 383 (2000)
- Commercial Pilot - Airplane with single and multi-engine land, and instrument ratings
- Advanced Ground Instructor
- Control Tower Operator
- Disallowance Questions Answered -- New Final Rule on Aircraft Operating Expenses Attributable to Commuting
- Impact & Takeaways of New IRS Rules Implementing FET Exemption for Travel by Aircraft Owners
- Federal Income & Excise Tax Implications of Personal & Entertainment Use of Business Aircraft
- Tax Matters for Airplane Purchases: The 30,000 foot view
- Tax Issues for Airplane Purchases Under Current Tax Law
- Use of Ownership Trusts & International Registry Issues in Aircraft Acquisitions
- Bonus Depreciation Update / TCJA Update Provisions
- Tax Cuts & Jobs Act of 2017 Update
- Bonus Depreciation Update / Tax-Free Exchange Aircraft Exchanges under Code Section 1031
- Federal Income Tax Treatment of Personal Use of Aircraft
- Federal Income Tax Treatment of Personal Use of Aircraft
- Federal Income Tax Treatment of Personal Use of Aircraft
- Tax-Free Exchanges Under IRC 1031 and Bonus Depreciation Updates
- Federal Income Tax Treatment of Personal Use of Aircraft - - Update on Final Regulations
- Unique Issues in Aircraft Purchase & Sale Transactions/Like Kind Exchanges Under Code Section 1031
- Carriage of Candidates for and Holders of Federal Elected Office/Bonus Depreciation Update
- Federal Income Tax Treatment of Personal Use of Aircraft – Update on Final Regulations
- Unique Issues In Aircraft Purchase & Sale Transactions Involving a Non-U.S. Party/Tax-Free Aircraft Exchanges under Code Section
- Rules Regarding Use of Accelerated Depreciation - Bonus Depreciation
- 2011 Bonus Depreciation
- The Contracting Process of Purchasing an Aircraft
- 2011 Bonus Depreciation
- Bombardier Aviation Tax Law Seminar
- Business Aircraft Federal Tax Depreciation Basics (Part 2)
- Business Aircraft Federal Tax Depreciation Basics (Part 1)
- Sales and Use Tax Update New York Reform
- Avoid the Flight Department Company Trap
- What Tax Breaks for Billionaires?
- Business Aircraft Depreciation Primer - Getting to Grips With The Basics (Part 2 of 2).
- Business Aircraft Depreciation Primer - Getting to Grips With The Basics (Part 1 of 2).
- Tax Considerations: When Depreciation Begins
- A Trap for the Unwary: Flight Department Companies
- Bonus Depreciation: Extended for Another Year
- Knowing The Difference: Distinguishing Between Business Travel and Commuting.
- Tax Treatment Of Corporate Aircraft Use: Entertainment, Amusement and Recreational Purposes (Part 2)
- Tax Treatment Of Corporate Aircraft Use: Entertainment, Amusement and Recreational Purposes (Part 1)
- Board of Directors Briefing: Tax Implications of Using the Company Aircraft for Personal and Recreational Purposes
- Authority to Conduct Part 135 Operations
- New Jersey Sales and Use Tax and Aircraft Charter Operations
- Tax Depreciation of Business Aircraft
- Board of Directors Briefing Charge-Backs for Personal Use